Give yourself permission to just take a couple of minutes with this blog post.

Sit down comfortably and take some deep breaths.

Breathe in for 4............1...........2...........3.............4

And breathe out for 4 ...............1.............2............3...............4

Take the time to do this for a few breaths...........

Now picture yourself receiving hug from your loved one. Imagine their arms around you.....the hug lasts more than a second so give yourself time to imagine this as a real hug would be from your loved one. Your bodies close, arms around each other, ....that feeling of safety and love.....

Next picture yourself being hugged by one of your parents. Imagine how that feels. How long does it last? Are they long hugs? Think about the different emotions that come to mind. How your body fits that of your parent. All those years of knowing each other....

What about the hug from a little child....maybe your child, or grandchild, or your friends little kids.....maybe you are bending down so they can reach around your neck...or you have lifted them up......how their head goes on your shoulder...those sweet little arms trying to encircle you.

And what about a hug with a dear friend. How does that feel. Picture that in your mind now.

Or hugging your favorite pet, be it a dog, cat, bird.......

Just think about how those hugs feel. Each hug we imagined, felt different from the previous one. The person makes a difference, even in our imagination.

I hope by taking a couple of minutes, you can see that just imaging receiving a hug can be pretty powerful. Emotional and physiological changes occur. A hug can make us feel loved, supported, safe, touched - just when it is in our heads.

So hug imagery is something to remember. I have many clients and friends who, because of going through chemotherapy, have been told not to hug anyone for fear of getting an infection from someone. People miss these hugs. But they don't have to. They can use hug-imagery instead. Next time you meet someone who can't hug, both close your eyes and imagine that hug. It will still mean something to that person - and you - and they will feel they have been hugged.

And if you can't be there to give someone a hug, send them this blog post and help them to imagine the hug you are sending them. Maybe they live far away, maybe they just need your hug today. Suggest they take one minute and imagine a hug. It can do wonders!

And as you finish reading this, close your eyes and imagine me giving you a big hug, right now.